THE GONADOTROPIC HORMONES 



effects of prolan in a large number of patients. In a smaller 

 series of 7 patients, in whom ovarian specimens were avail- 

 able in 3 instances and endometrial samples were available 

 in all, they found no evidence of ovulation and corpus luteum 

 formation as a result of the injection of prolan. The authors 

 injected total doses of 6,000-24,000 rat-units (400-8,000 rat- 

 units daily). Among other recent descriptions of the clinical 

 effects of prolan in women are those of Anselmino and Hoff- 

 mann (1935), Moricard (1936), and Trettenero (1936). The 

 effects of prolan (2,000-22,000 rat-units in 4-6 days) are 

 difficult to evaluate in the report of Anselmino and Hoff- 

 mann, because the patients all suffered from carcinoma of 

 the uterus. Apparently the important changes were atresia 

 of the follicles and luteinization of the thecae. Moricard 

 transplanted the ovary into the vulva. The injection of an 

 extract of pregnancy-urine was followed by hypertrophy of 

 the transplant, from which oestrin-containing fluid could be 

 aspirated. Trettenero believed that his extract of pregnancy- 

 urine produced ovarian changes — chiefly persistence or new 

 formation of luteal tissue in the ovaries — which modified the 

 menstrual rhythm. 



Modifications of the action of prolan may occur as a result 

 of the injection of an oestrogen. The augmentation of the size 

 of the corpora lutea, if an oestrogen also is administered, is 

 probably due to the added eft'ect of luteinizing hormone lib- 

 erated from the injected animal's anterior pituitary (Wolfe, 

 1936; see chap. iii). It could be inferred from other data that 

 progesterone might lessen the action of prolan. Recently, 

 Jacobsen (1936) found that the injection of progestin (0.03- 

 0.04 rabbit-unit daily), if made before and during the ad- 

 ministration of prolan, markedly interfered with the forma- 

 tion of corpora lutea in immature mice. 



In confirmation of previous work, Connon (1937) reported 

 that large doses of prolan (80-125 rat-units daily for 2~S 

 days) inhibit lactation in rats, as shown by the failure of 

 the young to grow and by the histological appearance of the 



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